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The Supreme Court on Monday, deferred till Thursday the hearing of the pleas filed by Bharti Airtel chairman, Sunil Mittal and Essar Group vice chairman, Ravi Ruia challenging the recent summons of the 2G trial court.

A battery of top lawyers including Harish Salve, Fali Nariman, AM Singhvi, CA Sundaram among others were present for arguing the case of their clients Sunil Mittal and Ravi Ruia before the three judge Supreme Court bench presided over by Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir reports CNBC-TV18’s Malvika Jain.

As soon the matter came up, Justice Vikramajit Sen recused himself from hearing the matter. As a consequence of that the court ordered that the matter be released from the bench, which also includes Justice Anil R Dave and listed it for hearing this Thursday at 3:30 pm.

However, the SC ordered Mittal and Ruia to appear on Tuesday before the special CBI Court at Patiala House, where the matter is listed.

Gopal Jain, Advocate, Supreme Court said, “I believe in any case people had gone and appeared before the court. I think it's a sense of respect to that court but there is no legal requirement since the court itself has said that till they (Supreme Court) consider it, the date in the trail court will be able the consideration in the Supreme Court.

Mittal and Ruia have been ordered to appear before the trial court and give a personal bond for appearance on the next date. The SC also ordered that the matter before the trial court be adjourned till next Monday that is April 22.

DP Singh, criminal lawyer, DP Singh said, “Bond means that one has surrendered before the court, one is not avoiding the summons of the court. So that just means that I am a part of the justice delivery system, I have surrendered myself to the court and if the matter is sub-judice, it will be subject to whatever decision the supreme court gives.”

Towards the end of the hearing today, CBI counsel KK Venugopal sought that the matter be referred to justice GS Singhvi, whose court has been monitoring the 2G scam investigations. To this, the Chief Justice said the request would be considered at the next hearing.